scholarly journals Textures and Rare Earth Elements Composition of Banded Iron Formations (BIF) at Njweng Prospect, Mbalam Iron Ore District, Southern Cameroon

2013 ◽  
Vol 04 (01) ◽  
pp. 146-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieudonne Charles Isidore Ilouga ◽  
Cheo Emmanuel Suh ◽  
Ghogomu Richard Tanwi
2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (15) ◽  
pp. 6125-6132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenjun Li ◽  
Xindi Jin ◽  
Bingyu Gao ◽  
Changle Wang ◽  
Lianchang Zhang

Comparison between the REE data of this work and literature values by Z. S. Yu et al., Sampaio et al., Dulski et al., and Bau et al. in reference materials FER-2 (a) and FER-3 (b) using PAAS-normalized REE patterns.


Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Rosière ◽  
Farid Chemale Jr. ◽  
Marcelo L.V. Guimarães

In the Quadrilátero Ferrífero iron ore district, the Cauê Formation of the Minas Supergroup comprise banded iron formations, called itabirites, of Lower Proterozoic age enclosing iron rich ore bodies. Although many ore bodies are associated with syntectonic enrichment processes, due to the leaching of gangue minerals like quartz and carbonates, others are probably of sedimentary origin and were recrystallized during the tectonometamorphic development of the region.Three generations of magnetite and four of hematite are recognized in these rocks. They display a clear textural relationship in zones of high and low strain, with the development of two main deformational events under variable metamorphic conditions and different tectonic levels.The first part of this paper one describes the recrystallization phenomena and its relation to the main structures, while in the second part the developed textures and its association to the strain are presented.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Arlette Pulcherie Djoukouo Soh ◽  
Sylvestre Ganno ◽  
Lianchang Zhang ◽  
Landry Soh Tamehe ◽  
Changle Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract The newly discovered Bibole banded iron formations are located within the Nyong Group at the northwest of the Congo Craton in Cameroon. The Bibole banded iron formations comprise oxide (quartz-magnetite) and mixed oxide-silicate (chlorite-magnetite) facies banded iron formations, which are interbedded with felsic gneiss, phyllite and quartz-chlorite schist. Geochemical studies of the quartz-magnetite banded iron formations and chlorite-magnetite banded iron formations reveal that they are composed of >95 wt % Fe2O3 plus SiO2 and have low concentrations of Al2O3, TiO2 and high field strength elements. This indicates that the Bibole banded iron formations were not significantly contaminated by detrital materials. Post-Archaean Australian Shale–normalized rare earth element and yttrium patterns are characterized by positive La and Y anomalies, a relative depletion of light rare earth elements compared to heavy rare earth elements and positive Eu anomalies (average of 1.86 and 1.15 for the quartz-magnetite banded iron formations and chlorite-magnetite banded iron formations, respectively), suggesting the influence of low-temperature hydrothermal fluids and seawater. The quartz-magnetite banded iron formations display true negative Ce anomalies, while the chlorite-magnetite banded iron formations lack Ce anomalies. Combined with their distinct Eu anomalies consistent with Algoma- and Superior-type banded iron formations, we suggest that the Bibole banded iron formations were deposited under oxic to suboxic conditions in an extensional basin. SIMS U–Pb data indicate that the Bibole banded iron formations were deposited at 2466 Ma and experienced metamorphism and metasomatism at 2078 Ma during the Eburnean/Trans-Amazonian orogeny. Overall, these findings suggest that the studied banded iron formations probably marked the onset of the rise of atmospheric oxygen, also known as the Great Oxidation Event in the Congo Craton.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-145
Author(s):  
Vincent Laurent Onana ◽  
Estelle Ndome Effoudou ◽  
Sylvia Desirée Noa Tang ◽  
Véronique Kamgang Kabeyene ◽  
Georges Emmanuel Ekodeck

RésuméUn profil d’altération développé sur chloritoschistes de la zone de Bengbis (Sud Cameroun) a été choisi pour quantifier l’intensité de l’altération et comprendre le comportement des terres rares. Les valeurs de l’indice d’altération mafique combinées aux diagrammes ternaires du système Al – Fe – Mg – Ca – Na – K montrent que l’hydrolyse des feldspaths est proportionnelle à celle des minéraux mafiques (pertes en Mg), bien que l’hydrolyse des plagioclases (Ca, Na) soit plus intense que celle des minéraux ferromagnésiens. Les matériaux d’altération étudiés sont localisés dans le domaine de la kaolinitisation, à l’exception des matériaux nodulaires qui sont légèrement latritiss. La modification du comportement du Mg dans le milieu d’altération s’exprime par les faibles valeurs du rapport Ca/Mg. Le potassium et Be sont lessivés dans le sol en association avec Mg. L’ordre de mobilité des éléments dans l’environnement d’altération étudié est : Ca ≈ Na > Fe2+ ≈ Sr > Mg ≈ Co > Mn > Li > Ba > Rb > P > Cd > Ni > Si > Be > K > Sn. Les enrichissements en K, Cs et Be dans les saprolites sont liés à la présence d’illite. L’accumulation en Cs dans le sol est due à la présence de kaolinite. Le système le plus stable dans le milieu d’altération étudié est : Hf – Nb – W – U. Les saprolites, les matériaux nodulaires et les matériaux argileux meubles superficiels sont appauvris en terres rares par rapport à la roche mère. Les terres rares présentent trois types de comportement le long du profil d’altération, comme l’indiquent les valeurs du rapport (La/Yb)N ((La/Yb)N < 1, (La/Yb)N ~ 1 et (La/Yb)N > 1). Les terres rares légères et les terres rares moyennes s’accumulent dans les matériaux d’altération pour des valeurs de pH comprises entre 5,5 et 5,6 et pour celles de Eh variant entre +60 et +70mV. L’ordre de mobilité de ces éléments dans ces matériaux est le suivant : terres rares moyennes > terres rares lourdes terres rares légères. Ce fait est contre-intuitif, car les terres lourdes sont plus mobiles dans les environnemenst supergènes que les terres rares légères. L’adsorption ou la co-précipitation de ces terres rares sur les oxydes de fer peut principalement contrôler la concentration de ces éléments dans le profil d’altération. Les faibles anomalies en Ce dans les matériaux d’altération de la zone de Bengbis, dues au changement de Ce3+ en Ce4+, sont probablement dues à la présence de faibles quantités de rhabdophane. Les matériaux d’altération étudiés présentent un fractionnement en Gd (Gd/Gd* ~0.70 – 0.84) dues à une intense lixiviation. Ce fait a rarement été signalé dans un environnement d’altération latéritique. Il semble qu’une partie de la distribution et de la remobilisation du gadolinium soit contrôlée par des minéraux mafiques dans les matériaux d’altération étudiés. La distribution et la mobilisation des terres rares sont donc contrôlées par (1) l’adsorption ou la coprécipitation dans les minéraux mafiques et Fe, (2) et légèrement par les minéraux contenant des terres rares tels que le rhabdophane, rencontrés dans les matériaux d’altération étudiés. Abstract An in situ weathering profile overlying chlorite schists in southern Cameroon was chosen to quantify chemical weathering intensity and to study the behaviour of rare earth elements (REE). Mafic index alteration values combined with the ternary diagrams of the Al – Fe – Mg – Ca – Na – K system show that the hydrolysis of feldspars is proportional to that of mafic minerals (losses in Mg), although the hydrolysis of the plagioclases (Ca, Na) is more intense than that of ferromagnesian minerals. The studied materials are localised in the domain of kaolinitisation, except for nodular materials which are slightly lateritised. The change in the behaviour of Mg in the weathering environment is expressed by the low values in Ca/Mg ratio. Potassium and Be are leached in the soil in association with Mg. The order of mobility of the elements in the weathering environment is: Ca ≈  Na > Fe2+ ≈ Sr > Mg ≈ Co > Mn > Li > Ba > Rb > P > Cd > Ni > Si > Be > K > Sn. The enrichments in K, Cs and Be in saprolites are linked to the presence of illite. Cesium accumulation in the soil is due to the presence of kaolinite. The most stable system is: Hf – Nb – W – U. Saprolites, nodular and loose clayey materials are depleted in REE relative to the parent rock. REE exhibit three types of behaviour along the Bengbis profile like indicated by (La/Yb)N ratio values ((La/Yb)N < 1, (La/Yb)N ~ 1 and (La/Yb)N > 1). Light REE and Middle REE accumulate in the weathering materials for pH values ranging between 5.5 and 5.6 and for those of Eh varying between +60 and +70mV. The order of mobility of REE in these horizons is: Middle REE > Heavy REE ≈ Light REE. This fact is counter-intuitive, because Heavy REE are more mobile in supergene environment than Light REE. Adsorption or co-precipitation of LREE onto Fe oxides mainly may control the concentration of these elements in the profile. Weak Ce anomalies in the weathering materials of Bengbis area, due to the change in Ce3+ to Ce4+, are probably due to the presence of low amounts in rhabdophane. The studied weathering materials show a fractionation in Gd (Gd/Gd* ~0.70 – 0.84) due to intense chemical leaching. This fact has been rarely reported in lateritic weathering environment. It appears that, a part of Gd distribution and remobilization is controlled by mafic minerals in the studied weathered materials. REE distribution and mobilization are thus controlled by (1) adsorption or co-precipitation in mafic and Fe minerals, (2) and slightly by REE-bearing minerals such as rhabdophane found in the studied weathering profile.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
pp. 620-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Landry Soh Tamehe ◽  
Marvine Nzepang Tankwa ◽  
Wei Chongtao ◽  
Sylvestre Ganno ◽  
Timoléon Ngnotue ◽  
...  

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